The eyes of football fans are turning towards the matches of the 2026 World Cup, which will feature the largest participation in the history of the tournament with 48 teams, amid great anticipation for the names expected to make a difference in this global football festival.
Among stars striving to write the final chapter of their careers, and others representing the new generation in global football, a list of players emerges who are expected to have a significant impact on the tournament.
At the forefront of these names, the Argentine Lionel Messi continues his presence despite aging, after winning the title in 2022, where he is expected to lead his national team in an attempt to retain the title in what may be his last appearance in the World Cup.
As for the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, he enters the tournament for his sixth participation at the age of 41, with the ambition to lead his national team towards its first world title in history, in a stage that may bring a new confrontation with his traditional rival Messi in the later rounds.
On his part, the Egyptian Mohamed Salah continues to represent the main hopes of Arab and African football, as he hopes to lead the Egyptian national team to achieve a historic participation that surpasses the early rounds, and perhaps secure the Pharaohs’ first World Cup victory.
Among the rising talents, the young Spaniard Lamine Yamal stands out as one of the brightest stars of the new generation after his brilliance with Barcelona, while the French Kylian Mbappé enters the tournament as one of the top candidates to lead his national team to another title thanks to his speed and goal-scoring instinct.
The England national team also relies on its captain , who seeks to lead the “Three Lions” to a title that has been awaited since 1966, while the Norwegian Erling Haaland is considered one of the most dangerous attackers globally despite the limited opportunities of his national team.
On the Brazilian side, Vinicius Junior is expected to lead the new generation towards restoring the glories of “Seleção”, while the French Ousmane Dembélé continues to deliver strong performances that have made him one of the most prominent attacking names capable of making a difference at any moment.
The list concludes with the rising African talents, led by the promising player Yam Doumbia from Ivory Coast, who is expected to be one of the surprises of the tournament if he continues his remarkable development in European stadiums.
